I was wondering, since the stock shifter also has such a long distance left and right does the short shifter reduce some of the distance say from first to reverse?

 

And here I am, preparing to make my own using half of a smoothcase's front housing, some aluminum stock, and hearty application of a TIG welder and a Bridgeport (the milling machine, not the rotary ).

Oh well. *MINE* will have either a T-10 or a Ford T-5 bolt pattern on it. Perhaps both?

 

Mr. Quick ShiftKit

The person that I mentioned in my previous post was selling this one from MazdaRacing.com

I don't know if he is affiliated with MazdaRacing or just a middleman. MazdaRacing's webpage says "Fits all 79-92 RX-7 Transmissions".

Like I said before the guy didn't replay to e-mail. So I didn't buy it.

 

That won't work in a '79-80 transmission in a '79-80 chassis. Well it might, but you wouldn't be able to get it into 1st, 3rd, or 5th.

 

or reverse

 

they arent the same for all those years its a kit you have to specify which year you have

 

So there is NO way to get a shorter shift kit for a '79 other than cut and weld? Surely there's SOMEONE who has found a solution?

 

I'm not even going to look for a solution. I like having a long shifter most of the time. Good thing the ball and socket are already somewhat decent.

By the way, there is a difference between 4 and 5 speed shifter housings. I had to add a 1/8" spacer to make a four speed shifter work on two 5 speed trannies. '76 Cosmo and SA are similar enough that I'm getting away with an SA shifter on a Cosmo tranny, although it does feel a little looser than what I'd like. That's ok though because I'll be swapping in a Cosmo shifter soon which will need to be shortened (cut and weld would be the easiest, although I could try cutting some 12mm x 1.25 threads to fit an FC ****).

 

hhey guys don't you know how the idea of a short shift kit works? That ball looking thing in the middle and the short end going into the tranny, the peice inbeyween there is lengthened so the top portion has less distance to travel. Becoming, a shoft shift. It's the same basic design for all cars. ..........1:58 A.M. too late for me. Ok do you guys understand the theory now? BASICLY the whole ball thing is moved up.

 

What YapaKanichi said

However, there are two ways to shorten the shifter.

1.) Cut a section the shifter out above the ball and splice, weld, merge the two back together. This will give you a slightly shorter throw, probably not as much as #2. However, it also lowers the shift ****. Your hand will be closer to the floor board.

2.) Custom make/buy a short throw shifter. The large ball/pivot point is raised up the shaft. Thus the shifter remains the same total length and the shift **** is still the same height. But the small ball is traveling farther because the pivot point has been changed.

So overall, the goal is to lessen the distance that your hand has to travel to shift from one gear to the next.

Normal on left, short shifter on right.

Note: Photos included for reference only. Vehicle shown is not an RX-7.

 

short shifters won't work on the SA's, and here's why. the SA shifter, first of all, is mounted almost 4 inches farther forwards compared to the FB, and the whole shift linkage is different. The SA's use an actual interaction with the shifter forks, where the FB's use roller pins to engage the forks. the bottom end of everything is enitrely different. it's not possible to mate the shifter pod from one series onto the other, but it is possible to cut the FB shifter housing, remount it and reweld everything, and install the short shifter that way, but do what you guys want, huh?

 

Those of you with an SA, does your shifter look like this?

Curious as my 1980 SA does not look like this. Then again mine has been cut and spliced. Mine is a straight shaft.

BTW this is for sale on e-bay, not my auction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33736

 

Yeah, my SA shifter looks like that. It seems to fit on my Cosmo tranny, although it feels a little loose. I'll have to swap in a different shifter soon.

 

The shifter was "loose" in my '80 as well. It was as if there was supposed to be a thin plastic bushing between the bottom ball and the shifter block.

This didn't bother me in the least. Actually made it easier to do the diagonal shifts - just mash in the direction of the next gear and the linkage would work things out on its own as far as moving side to side. Kinda like those weird "sloppy" upper pulleys on Shimano derailleurs.

 

Here is the answer to everyone's question. http://www.nopionline.com/index.cfm?...20Kit&vaffid=0 I have had this link for a very long time. They used to want almost 300 bucks for it and now it's down to 105 I would say jump on it but I had my short shifter custom made. Hope this helps!

 

So that will fit a later style shifter into an early housing? Interesting.

 

I doubt it.

I want the hook-up on one of those '72 RX-7s

 

Yeah id love to see one of those.

 

I've gotta do a mod to one of my shifters to keep it from hitting the E brake handle.